in the course of a few days, the opacity was evidently diminished, particularly in the right eye, the patient discovering the colour of objects more plainly than before, but being still unable to distinguish their figure. At the end of a month, finding no further improvement in her vision, it appeared to me most probable that the remaining opacity was situated in the capsules. I therefore determined to extract either a part or the whole of each of them. The incisions of the cornea were made in the usual manner; after which, I punctured the anterior parts of both the capsules with the sharp end of a gold curette. The punctures became immediately transparent, without affording an issue to the liquor Meibomii, or any other humour. From hence it seems evident, that nothing was contained within the capsules, or, in other words, that the crystalline humours were absorbed; and it appears to me highly probable, that their absorption had been occasioned by the previous operation of puncturing their capsules with the couching needle. I dilated the new punctures with the end of the curette; and, afterwards, being still afraid that the apertures in the capsules might not be large enough to admit a sufficient number of the rays of light, I removed a portion of each of them with a small forceps. This was accomplished in the left eye, without occasioning the discharge of any part of the vitreous humour; and, in the right, the quantity of this humour that came away was very small. In the course of a week, the inflammation that followed the operation was nearly removed; a large portion of both pupils was quite clear; and the young lady distinguished objects with quickness and precision." . MISCELLANEOUS MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS. On CONVERSATION. [From GRAVES'S SENILITIES, or SOLITARY AMUSEMENTS.] Μισω μνημονα συμπότην I hate a pot-companion with a good memory.' THERE cannot be a more seTHE vere satire on the usual strain of convivial conversation, than is implied in this proverbial It maxim of the ancient Greeks. betrays a consciousness of the trifling, if not absurd or reprehensible kind of communication which too often prevails on those occasions. The most cautious and re served, in the freedom of social intercourse frequently let fall some remarks or expressions which they would wish to recall, or would blush to have remembered or repeated. And the herd of jovial companions generally talk at random, or indulge themselves in such incoherent, unmeaning loquacity, as can neither be remembered nor repeated. As they sacrifice more to Bacchus than to Minerva, their wine wisdom to flight, puts and folly reigns triumphant. I drank! I lik'd it not, 'twas rage, 'twas noise, An airy scene of transitory joys. of the night, What had been said, I ask'd myself.' PRIOR. "In general, indeed, those agreeable conversations which we daily hear mentioned as having been enjoyed even in the society of distinguished characters, if rigidly scrutinized, would, probably, fall far short of our expectation. I never had the honour of being admitted to the assembly of the Bas Bleu club, which consists of the most celebrated female characters in the kingdom. But from those who have enjoyed that felicity, I have heard that the conversation often turned upon fashions, the occurrences of the day, and other chit-chat which prevails in other female assemblies. "In so numerous a mixed com pany, indeed, where every one comes full charged with literature and science, ready primed for explosion, a little harmless small talk among the less enlightened members, may be better than one general discharge of wit and learning from the whole assembly, which must necessarily produce a Babel of confusion. companions who will patiently at tend to their superior wisdom, and admire their splendid talents, and applaud their eloquence. ⚫tion with our friends, are some of the most delightful portions of our existence?' By no means: what I would insinuate is, that when a numerous concourse of individuals, unconnected and of different dispositions, is assembled together in one company; each ambitious of displaying his eloquence and gaining attention, or obtruding his intelligence of frivolous occurrences, uninteresting to the company, though, perhaps, gratifying to himself; this may be called talkingheaven to witness, that not five or haranguing, or what you please, ⚫ words passed my lips.' but hardly merits the name of conversation. "As for those tumultuous assemblies called routs, we might as well expect edifying conversation from a flight of martins and swallows on the eve of their migration, as from such a multifarious concourse of fluttering fops and flaunting flirts as are there usually crowded together. An evening at a tavern is generally spent in an equally insignificant, though, perhaps, more joyous and sociable, and less formal style of conversation. "But when a small circle of friends and acquaintance, of nearly equal rank and of similar dispositions and habits of life, meet together, desirous to please and to be pleased, the reciprocal communication of sentiments and observations, with kindness and good-humour, cannot but be highly pleasing and improving to all parties. But the usual error of too many is a desire to shine, rather than to inform, and to please themselves rather than their company, by engrossing more than their due share of the conversation. They have no desire to be informed or diverted themselves, but think those the most agreeable "This accounts for the gratification which the French lady received from the visit of Tristram Shandy. She declared to every one she met, that she never had a more improving conversation, than with that gentleman, though (says he) the lady had all the conversation to herself; for, I call "We may conclude, then, I think, that the pleasure which we receive from the conversation of a circle of friends, does not arise from the fine things which are said, the shrewd observations which are made, the learning which is shown, or the wit which is displayed, so much as from the benevolent disposition, and the exercise of the kind affections which accompany this friendly intercourse, and the ease and freedom with which every one delivers his sentiments, proposes his doubts. or unbosoms himself of any remarks which he may have made, and which he wishes to communicate. When, therefore, you may have met with this refined gratification, and enjoyed an attic entertainment, do not boast of your good fortune, nor tell every one you meet what an agreeable conversation or delightful evening you have spent; and how merry or how facetious you were: much less give any specimen of your good cheer; for the wit or humour of what is said depends on so many circumstances of time and place, that it is ten to one but what set the table in a roar' at night, will appear very insipid in the morning, and what you relate may be received of those I meet. same district, or even on the face of the same globe with themselves. "I sometimes meet a man so in his look, with such an air of destately in his deportment, so haughty fiance in his whole manner, that I shrink from his appearance, and feel myself annihilated in his presence. Yet, on recovering from my dismay, and reflecting on the limited power and capacity of every human being, I find probably, on inquiry, the real character of this illustrious per that his air con sonage: cance. "Though I will not subscribe to the infallibility of Lavater's system of physiognomy; yet the feelings of every one, without " any rules, may interpret the sentiments of most people from the air and cast of their countenances. "Man is by nature sociable and friendly to man; and when there is no opposition of interests, rarely harbours any malicious or hostile disposition against his fellow-creatures. Whence then are those unfriendly, contemptuous, and repulsive airs which we continually meet with in those with whom we have no connexion, and whom we have never injured or offended? who survey us with such a supercilious, disdainful mien, as if they questioned our right to exist in the as it lossal figures who seem to 'bestride "Such are many of those cothe world, and under whose legs, were, we petty mortals must to pass by them, without being peep about,' to find a loop-hole crushed against the wall, or justled into the kennel. "One man, whom I have met, perhaps, at a third place, assumes a reserved and distant air, lest I should claim him as an acquaintance *. Another man, with eyes fixed, looks straight forwards, and though our elbows almost touch, seems unconscious that any one is near him, or at least worth his notice. though we have met, perhaps, on "A third is near-sighted; and various occasions, has not the ho "The Tepino-phoby, or dread of low acquaintance,' prevails more in Bath, perhaps, than in any other public place in Europe." L 4 nour to recollect my name. All these are different stratagems of pride and self-importance, which, though not reducible to the precise rules of quarrelling, like the lie ' direct,' and for which we can call a man to account; yet may, and ought to be resented, or rather treated with the contempt which they deserve. I remember a stout fellow, with a most terrific countenance, who, if he met a man strutting alon in sublime contemplation of his own importance, and a sovereign contempt of all around him, would, on a sudden, run up to him, turn his large white eyes upon him, and cry, Boh! This, it may be supposed, often involved him in a scuffle, or rough rencounter; but generally raised a laugh at the expense of the haughty despot. A proud look is an insult on the public. Pride was not made for man, nor for woman neither. Yet I have seen a fair spinster, rather past her bloom, who has been conversing with a polite smile in the midst of two or three gentlemen; but on the appearance of a young nymph in the glossy lustre of fifteen, assume an haughty air, and survey the blushing harmless virgin with such a murderous aspect that I have been alarmed for the consequences. "What then do I expect from those whom I meet in public, and who certainly have a right to look, as well as to act, as they please, in defiance of my assumed censorial authority? "Why, I expect, that every man should look with an air of kindness and benignity on all mankind; or, at least, not assume an hostile or menacing aspect towards those who have never injured or offended him. 66 Let a man of rank or distinction assume the dignity becoming his station and character; but let not those who have no rank, nor, perhaps, any character, to distinguish them from the vulgar, affect that superiority, which is an affront to every one they meet, and which will not easily be allowed them in a country of true liberty, and where education and virtue make the only real distinction; and where men will not be imposed upon or kept in awe by a solemn appearance or arrogant pretensions. "A friend of mine, when he meets a man of this description, snaps his fingers at him, and ejacu lates a scrap of Latin after him, Non hujus te facio! I do not care this for you! "For my own part, as I love all mankind, I rather pity than resent the folly of this theatrical hero, who struts his hour on the stage, and then is seen no more."" On what is called a FALSE VOICE. [From DESPIAU'S SELECT AMUSEMENTS in PHILOSOPHY and MATHEMATICS."] "A FINE veice is certainly preferable to every instrument whatever. Unfortunately, many persons have only a false voice; but, in general, this does not arise from any defect in the organs of the voice, which are almost the same in all mankind: it originates from the ears, owing to an inequality of strength in these organs, |